Notes: Titans' Greene on the shelf after knee scope

Titans tailback Shonn Greene is expected to miss a few weeks after reportedly undergoing knee surgery.

By GREGPOGUEFS Tennessee
Sep 17, 2013 at 5:09p ET

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Titans running back Shonn Greene injured a knee against Pittsburgh (Week 1) and did not play last week against Houston.

According to multiple reports, Greene underwent arthroscopic surgery Monday night and is expected to be out several weeks.

"We hoped we'd get through this process of giving him a couple days to see how it responded," Titans head coach Mike Munchak said Monday, prior to the determination of surgery.

After rushing for more than 1,000 yards the past two seasons for the Jets, Greene was signed to be more of a bullish runner and change-of-pace back for Chris Johnson. Against the
Steelers, Greene had four carries for 18 yards before getting injured.

Starting defensive tackle Sammie Hill could miss several games after injuring an ankle against Houston. He was signed as a free agent after three seasons with Detroit.

Verner does it again

After acrobatically intercepting a pass by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the opener, fourth-year cornerback
Alterraun Verner was at it again Sunday against Matt Schaub.

But this time, though, Verner returned the interception 24 yards for a touchdown, giving the Titans a 24-16 lead with 4:59 remaining. It was the eighth interception for the 2010 fourth-round draft pick (UCLA), but his first pick-six.

"It was a big play for the team," Verner said. "It got us up and gave us a chance to win. I just saw the ball in the air and just went to get it. It was enough for me to help our team right then."

Verner hadn't been named the starter at left cornerback until right before the opener, the result of a close battle throughout training camp with third-year pro Tommie Campbell.

"He's got a knack for it, and he’s got such a great attitude," Munchak said of the 5-foot-10, 186-pound Verner. "Like we said with all he’s been through this offseason about hearing about the competition and all that, he just rose to the occasion, which you love to see in a player.

"He's special that way, I think. He just has a knack for the ball. He understands the game. He's smart. He studies. He does his homework, so he knows where he needs to be."

Welcoming back an old nemesis

For a variety of reasons, the Titans haven't had much luck against the
Chargers, Tennessee's opponent for Sunday's home opener (12 p.m. kickoff, Central time). Dating back to 1993, the Titans have lost to the Bolts nine straight times.

"I know it's been a long time," Munchak said of the losing streak to the Chargers. "I don’t know if it's been back to when I was playing, but we haven’t beat them in a long time."

The streak started in Munchak's next-to-last season as a Hall of Fame lineman for the then-Houston Oilers. After retiring, he became the team’s offensive line coach in 1994, a position he held until becoming the head coach in 2011.

Last season, the Chargers won 38-10, but that was under former coach Norv Turner. He led San Diego to the last six wins over Tennessee, including a playoff victory in 2008. But the Chargers (1-1), who won at Philadelphia on Sunday, are now coached by Mike McCoy and have a new general manager in Tom Telesco.

"It's a different team, different coaches, different roster when we played them last year," Munchak said.

Titans tidbits

**Nashville’s Amy Grant, a six-time Grammy Award-winning singer, will entertain Titans fans during pre-game ceremonies for Sunday's opener. She is the wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill.

**Along with the YWCA, the Titans are having a pajama party at Sunday's opener to assist victims of domestic violence. Fans attending the game are encouraged to donate new pajamas and/or underwear for women and/or children of all ages who have been victims of domestic violence.

Volunteers wearing pajamas will be stationed at seven locations surrounding LP Field from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. CDT. They will be collecting pajamas, socks, bras and underwear.